Music-box



(No Model.)

P. H. OORTHELL.

MUSIC BOX.

7 No. 474.370. Patented May 10, 1892.

WITNESSES INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT QEEICE.

FRED H. CORTHELL, OF NEXV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MUSIC-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,370, dated May 10,1892.

Application filed September 26, 1891. Serial No. 406,921- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED H. OoR'rHELL, a resident of New Haven, in thecounty of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Music-Boxes; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

The invention relates to music-boxes and like instruments, and has forits object to provide a pin-cylinder of such construction that it can beaccurately and cheaply made in the first instance and subsequentlyrepaired with convenience when repairs are required; and it consists inthe construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of theimproved pincylinder. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3 is an endelevation, of the same. Fig. at is an elevation of one of the disks ofwhich a cylinder is composed, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of amodification.

. The cylinder which carries the pins that operate the sound-producingdevices in a socalled self-acting musical instrumentsu ch as thewell-known music-boXis indicated on the drawings by numeral 1. It iscomposed of numerous thin disks, preferably made of steel, placed sideby side upon an arbor 2. The disks and the arbor are by preferenceslotted to receive a key 3, which secures them in proper positioncircumferentially. It is not essential that both disk and arbor beslotted nor that a key be employed instead of a feather; but a removablekey is preferred for the reason that it interferes less with the properfinishing of the arbor and of the openingin the disk. The disks aresecured against movement lengthwise of the arbor by nuts and Washers orby any suitable means. Each disk is provided on its periphery with pins4, adapted to operate a particular reed or an intermediatesound-producing device, and the various disks provided with such pinsare arranged and connected to produce, in conjuntion with the usual combor equivalent toneproducer, a variety of tunes.

To prepare the above-described disks, any convenient number of steelblanks suitably perforated and slotted at the center are placed upon anarbor and clamped in position, whereupon their peripheries are so cutaway by means of saws, dies, or other metal-cutting devices as to leavesuitable projections or pins 4, the location of these having beenpreviously determined in the usual manner and the cutting regulatedaccordingly. These disks thus prepared are all similarandinterchangeable. Others are prepared in like manner, having similarteeth differently disposed to correspond with the requirements of aparticular melody or melodies. Thus disks are made for pin-cylindersequal in number to the disks prepared with pins at each operation, andall that is required is to suitably assemble them.

Instead of cutting away the disks so as to leave pins 4, as abovedescribed, other disks having a diameter equal to that of thepincylinder required may in like manner be placed upon an arbor andradial saw kerfs or cuts made in their peripheries. In these the pins 5may be inserted and the metal of the disks then swaged or compressedupon the inserted end of each pin.

By the means above described the manufacture of pin-cylinders is muchsimplified and the cost thereof reduced, and, further, the constructionprovides for easily and quickly remedying defects or repairing injuriesto the cylinder and pins, since each disk, with its pins, is replaceableby others which can be kept in stock. The construction thus furnishes aremedy for the difficulty heretofore experienced in drilling cylindersfor the insertion of the pins. It is difficult to so drill or bore holesin the cylinder according to the old method as to fit them for properlyholding the pins. The tool is liable to drift, and the work is therebyrendered defective. After the insertion of the pins it is furthernecessary to file them down to a uniform distance from the cylinder. Asthis drilling and filing is done by hand, the work is less perfect andmuch more laborious than that requiredfor the manufacture of apin-cylinder of the form herein described, and obviously if one or morepins require to be replaced the present invention provides for effectiup; the operation much more easily.

Having noW particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatWhat I claim is 1. A pin-cylinder for a music-box or like instrument,composed of circular disks provided with suitable pins on theirperipheries and arranged side by side, an arbor passing centrallythrough said disks, and means for securing the latter together,substantially as set forth.

2. A pin-cylinder for a music-box or like instrument, composed ofcircular disks having suitable pins on their peripheries and detach-FRED ll. OORlI-IELL.

' Witnesses:

J. E. BRUCE, CHAS. N. FROST.

